The Southern Survey of Agricultural Majors: Some Implications for the Future of Higher Education in Agriculture.

Cosby, Arthur G.

The increased enrollment of women in Colleges of Agriculture has implications for the training and socializing of agriculture professionals in the future. The female students represent fundamental changes in the character of agricultural enrollment. They are more likely to be young, single, and politically moderate or liberal. They are less likely to have or want children, or to have parents who own a farm. They are a key factor in the amalgamation of agricultural education with the general society. Many female agriculture students want agricultural production jobs, especially as farmers, ranchers, horse breeders, managers, or foremen. However, judging by the conflicting sex-role attitudes of male and female agriculture students, there may be problems in placing women in the professional agriculture jobs they desire. This will place several stresses on Colleges of Agriculture. Colleges will need women in order to maintain enrollment figures and educational programs. Deans will therefore be forced to consider women's demands for placement, counseling, and curriculum changes. However, Colleges will find themselves in an uncomfortable position between the traditional employers of their graduates and increasing numbers of women students. The new agriculture student may also be a major factor in the decision to pursue a particularistic or generalistic agricultural education philosophy. (SB)

Note: Paper presented to the Resident Instruction Committee on Policy (RICOP) of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) (Burlington, VT, Summer, 1979). Publication contributes to USDA Cooperative State Research Service Southern Regional Project S-114, "Defining and Achieving Life Goals: A Process of Human Resource Development."